New Nuki Keypad 2 NFC with Aliro to work with Apple HomeKey from the start
Nuki is launching an upgrade option for its smart locks with Aliro in March. There is now information on HomeKey support – and Samsung support.
HomeKey logo: Hold it close, unlock.
(Image: Apple)
Nuki's recently introduced Aliro extension for the smart locks of the Austrian provider is set to be compatible with the HomeKey (Apple) and Digital Home Key (Samsung) standards at launch. The company announced this to Mac & i. “Apple HomeKey and Samsung Digital Home Key will support Aliro 1.0 from the start and will therefore also work,” the company stated. Aliro, a smart lock standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), was officially adopted in its first final version this week. It remained unclear at first whether Apple, Samsung, and Google would need to provide software updates for Aliro 1.0 support.
A standard for Apple, Samsung, and Google
With Apple HomeKey and Samsung Digital Home Key, it is possible to open locks via NFC. To do this, you simply need to hold your smartphone or smartwatch to an NFC-enabled keypad. Until now, this only worked with compatible hardware; for example, the Chinese provider Aqara offers the U200, one of the first locks only for Home Key. Aliro now standardizes the interface for the first time, aligning with other smart home standards like Matter.
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Nuki's Keypad 2 NFC is a new version of the existing Bluetooth-based keypad for the manufacturer's smart locks. It can be retrofitted to existing locks from the manufacturer's 2nd generation. Previously, unlocking was only possible via fingerprint or PIN code; with the NFC variant, Aliro via NFC is now added. The sales launch is from March 24th, and Nuki has not yet announced a price. The device is currently the first of its kind on the European market.
Ultra-Wideband is still missing, but Nuki is considering it
To use Aliro, a Matter hub must be present in the network, Nuki further stated. For Apple, this would be a HomePod 2, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K. At IFA, Nuki demonstrated the system with a SmartThings hub. Interesting: In addition to HomeKey and Digital Home Key, the Nuki app should also be usable for unlocking via NFC – via the new “Tap to Open” function.
According to Nuki, the Keypad 2 NFC will not support Ultra-Wideband (UWB), even though Nuki's HomeKey-only competitor Aqara (not yet available in Europe) can now do so. Auto-unlocking is significantly more precise and secure with UWB than with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). UWB is a “groundbreaking technology,” according to Nuki, “for an even more precise hands-free experience,” which they want to adapt for European door systems. However, the company does not want to reveal a roadmap for when this will happen. This likely means that those who wish to use HomeKey or Digital Home Key with Nuki will have to purchase another keypad variant later if they also want UWB.
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